This week on What The Hell Should I Watch?, I dig into a wide-ranging lineup that includes international cinema, a big survival sequel, and one of the most powerful political films of the year. From desert wanderers and prison-release tension to climate catastrophe and the European refugee crisis, this episode covers some heavy territory — plus Chloe jumps in with her own viewing in Butting In.
Fresh For Your Eyeballs
I start with Sirāt, a haunting and meditative film from director Óliver Laxe. It follows a father searching for his missing daughter across the Moroccan desert while traveling with a group of ravers as global conflict hums in the background. It’s slow, atmospheric, and built more on mood than plot.
Next up is In Cold Light, a tightly wound Canadian thriller starring Maika Monroe and Troy Kotsur. Told almost in real time, it follows a woman newly released from prison who becomes trapped in a violent situation. It’s stripped down, tense, and powered by its performances.
Then I get into Greenland 2: Migration, which brings Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin back as a family forced out of their bunker and into a shattered world. The sequel leans more into survival drama and emotional stakes than pure spectacle.
I wrap up the main reviews with Green Border, one of the most important and difficult films of 2023. Shot in stark black and white, it follows refugees trying to cross from Belarus into Poland. It’s raw, confronting, and impossible to ignore.
New to the Library
This week’s library pick is The Dark Half, George A. Romero’s strange and pulpy adaptation of the Stephen King novel about a writer stalked by his own fictional creation.
Butting In (with Chloe)
Chloe jumps in this week with a mix of discomfort, reflection, and animated chaos.She starts with Primate, which hit her especially hard because she already finds monkeys deeply unsettling. The film’s eerie tone and creeping tension made it extra creepy for her, turning it into more of an endurance watch than casual sci-fi.
Next, she revisits The Truman Show, a movie that somehow feels more prophetic every year. What once played as clever satire now lands as a warning about surveillance, performance, and living inside someone else’s idea of reality.
She closes out with the season premiere of American Dad!, which provides much-needed comic relief after two heavier picks. It’s loud, ridiculous, and still surprisingly sharp.
A Taste of Next Week
Coming up on the next episode, I’ll be reviewing:
Scream 7
Dreams
Man on the Run
Rescue at Donji
Lurker
Pillion
Steve Stebbing 